Fluid pressure power-operated reciprocating shaft tool



L. C. MILLER June 26, 1956 FLUID PRESSURE POWER-OPERATED RECIPROCATING SHAFT TOOL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 23, 1952 www June 26, 1956 l.. c. MILLER 2,751,940

FLUID PRESSURE POWER-OPERATED RECIPROCATING SHAFT TOOL Filed Feb. 23, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY w Q l... C. MILLER June 26, 1956 FLUID PRESSURE POWER-OPERATED RECIPROCATING SHAFT TOOI..

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 23, 1952 EOM/09S c. MM 59,

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United States Patent FLUID PRESSURE POWER-@PERATED RECEPROCATING SHAFT TOOL Leonidas C. Miller, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application February 23, 1952, Serial No. 273,958

3 Claims. (Cl. 143-68) This invention relates to portable power operated tools and is particularly directed to improvements in mounting and connecting the work-performing element relative to a uid actuated power cylinder assembly. This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial No. 667,320, tiled May 4, 1946, and entitled Fluid Driven Actuator for a Tool, Patent No. 2,612,140, granted September 30, 1952.

An important object of this invention is to provide an improved form of connection between a work-performing element of a tool and a power cylinder assembly having a reciprocable piston rod.

Another object is to provide a device of this type which permits angular adjustment of the work-performing element with respect to the power cylinder assembly.

Another object is to provide such a device which enables diierent types of work-performing elements to be connected for operation by the same power cylinder assembly.

Another object is to provide a mounting support having telescoping parts to provide access to a normally enclosed connection between the piston rod and the Work-performing element of the tool.

Other and more detailed objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portable power operated tool embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation partly broken away showing a modiied form of my invention.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the line 5-5 as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the nut in partly disengaged position and the guard swung to its extended position.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing the tubular support in retracted position to expose the threaded connection between the piston rod and work-performing element of the tool.

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 8 8 as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 9 9 as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view taken substantiallyV on the line 1li-10 as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 11 is an end elevation of the split ring.

Figure 12 (Sheet l) is a sectional view of a power cylinder assembly used in connection with my invention.

Referring to the drawings, the fluid driven actuator assembler 10 is operatively positioned between a valve assembly 11 and a pruning shear assembly generally designated 12. The pruning shear assembly 12 preferably comprises a stationary blade 13 secured to the end of a slotted tubular support 14. A movable blade 15 is pivotally connected to the stationary blade by means of a 'ice pivot bolt 16. Means are provided for preventing turning movement of the bolt 16 under the inliuence of the moving blade 15, and as shown in Figure 1 this means may include a small box Wrench 17 having its outer end secured to the stationary blade by means of a fastener element 18. A crank arm 19 formed integrally with the movable blade 1S is pivotally connected to a clevis 20 by means of a pin 21. An actuating arm 22 is threadedly connected with the clevis 20 at one end and at the other end is pivotally connected to a link 23 by a pivot pin 24. The actuating arm 22 extends through an axial slot 25 (Fig. 2) formed in the Wall of the tubular support 14. The link 23 is preferably circular in cross-section and is slidably received within the bore of the tubular member 14. The link 23 is pivotally connected by pin 8 to the end fitting 9 secured to the projecting end of the piston rod 31.

The actuator or power cylinder assembly 1d may be of any desirable construction, and as shown in Figure 2 includes a cylinder or housing 26 having end Walls 27 and 28. A stationary sleeve 29 forming a part of the housing is xed to the end wall 27 and projects axially from the cylinder 26. A piston 30 is mounted to reciprocate within the cylinder 26 and the piston 30 is Xed to a hollow piston rod 31 which projects axially through the sleeve 29. A bearing 32 is provided for guiding the piston rod 31 within the stationary sleeve 29.

A terminal connection fitting 33 is provided with a first passage 34 which communicates with a spear tube 35 extending axially into the bore of the hollow piston rod 31. This spear tube 3S is closed at its outer end and communicates With the space 36 through ports 37 and 38. The terminal connection tting 33 is provided with a second passage 34a which connects with the space 39. Air supplied under pressure through hose 49 is directed by the control valve assembly 11 through one of the passages 34 or 3S and is exhausted through the other passage. Operation of the pivoted lever 41 (Fig. 1) on the valve assembly 11 thus causes the piston 3) to move in the cylinder 26. Resilient bumpers 53 may be provided on the end walls 27 and 28 to cushion the action of the piston 30 at each end of its stroke.

In accordance with my invention I provide a novel form of connection for securing the tubular support 14 to the stationary housing sleeve 29. A ring or collar 42 is xed to the tubular support 14 near one end thereof and constitutes an enlargement of the tubular support. External threads 43 are provided on the sleeve 29, and these threads are engaged by the internal threads 44 of the nut 45. The nut 45 is provided with a bore 46 slidably receiving the tubular support 14 and is also provided with a counterbore 47 to receive the ring or collar 42. The counterbore 47 terminates in a shoulder 48.

When the nut 45 is threaded on the sleeve 29 the shoulder 48 engages one end of the ring or collar 42 and clamps the other end against the end surface 49 of the stationary sleeve 29. The nut 45 therefore serves to connect the sleeve 29 and tubular support 14 in operative position. Loosening of the nut permits the tubular support 14 to be turned with respect to the sleeve 29 so that the shear assembly 12 may be oriented as desired with respect to the power cylinder assembly 10 and control valve 11.V Thus, the plane of action of the shear blade 15 may be turned with respect to the plane of operation of the lever 41.

The sleeve 29 may be provided with a counterbore 50 to receive a seal ring 51 which engages the outer surface of the piston rod 31. A spacer 52 may be provided to hold the seal ring 51 in proper position.

In that form of my invention shown in Figures 3-11 a saw blade 60 is mounted for reciprocation relative to the slotted tubular support 61. One edge of the saw blade 1 the ends of its stroke.

e Y g 2,751,940

60 is provided with the usualteeth 62 andthe other edge 63 is engaged by a back-.up roller 64. This roller 64 is mounted to turn on a stationary'pin 65 extending between upstanding portions 66 of the crosshead 67. r The cross- `head 67 is'xed to'theorward-end not the"k tubular support 61.A Axially extendingfdiametrically` positioned slots V6i; are provided in the tubular support 61 to receive the saw blade 6). The slots 63 extend to the forward'end of the tubular support 61 and terminate at shoulders 69 near theother end of the tubular support 61. n

The tubular support 61 is telescopicaily received within the bore 72 of the stationaryrsleeve 73. This sleeve 73 constitutes a forward extension of the cylinder 74 of the pneumatic actuator generally designated 75. A pist-on 76 carrying a seal ring 77 is mounted to reciprocate Within the inner cylindery 78 of the assembly '75.V Rubber bump- 'ers '79 (Fig. 412) may be mounted at the ends of the inner vcylinder 78 to cushion the action of the piston at A piston rod S is fixed tothe piston 76 and extends Vforward through'the interior ofthe sleeve 73 and into the interior of the tubular support 61.

Acontrol valve assembly (not shown) is provided for introducing air under pressure alternately into opposite ends of the inner cylinder 78 to reciprocate the piston 76 within the inner cylinder 73. Y

Means are provided for connecting the saw bladev 6l? to the projecting end of the piston rod 59, and as shownA in the drawings this means includes a threaded portion Si on the piston rod which is received within a threaded itting 82 attached'to the saw bladel 'The fitting 82 Ymay be secured to thev saw blade 6d by any convenient means such as, for example, by brazing or welding. A tapered Vsocket 33 inthe itting S2 may be provided to receive a tapered pilot 34 provided on the piston rod. Aneularged portion S may be integrally formed on the piston rod Sti and provided with wrench `iiats. YSimilar wrench ats 86rnay'beV provided on the itting S2. The central portion 87 of the iitting V32 preferably forms aV sliding tit Within the interior of the tubularrsupport 61. From Vthis description it will be understood that reciprocationof Ythe pistonY rod 30 causes the saw blade 6G to reciprocate in the slotsV 68.

The annular groove 7i) is providedon the outer-sur faceo'f the tubular support 61, and a split 'ring 71 is Vmounted in the groove. A nut S8 has internal threads S9 which are engageable with the external threads 9i) provided on the stationary sleeve 73. AThe nut is also Yprovided with a counterbo're Y91-which receivesthe forward end Vof lthe sleeve 73 and also loosely receivers the split ring 7i. The counterbore 91 terminates ina taperV shoulder 92. The bore 93 slidably receives the outer surface of the tubular supportV 61. When the nut is in the position shown in Figure Y5 the split ring 71 is lconfined radially by the taper shoulder 92 against displacement from the groove 76. The shoulder 92 also serves to clamp the split ring '71 against the end of the sleeve ,73. This provides a rigid'connection between the sleeve 73 and the Vtubular support61.Y Upon loosening of the nut ,SSY the tubular support and saw blade 6i) may be angularly adjusted Vto any desired position. Thus, the plane of action of the saw blade 6i? may be turned withre- Y spect to the plane of operation of the lever V4,1. Upon retightening of the nut 88 the parts are held in the desired angular relationship.

Means are provided toV facilitateinsta'llation and removal of the saw blade 6i?, andas shown n the drawings Ythis means includes a guard 94 which is pivotally mounted on the crosshead 67 by meansrof the aligned pins 95. A spring urged pin 96 mounted on the guard 94 engages the surface 97 on the Vcross'head 67 to hold the guard inoperative position. The pin96 also acts against the surface 93 when the guard is extended to hold it in extended position. When the guard 94 i-s moved to its extended positio-n as shown in Figures 6 and 7 it provides a manually graspable handle. Upon loosening of the nut approximately one-half revolution to the position shown in Figure 6 the guard 94 may be usedas a handle to move the tubular support telescopically into the interior of the sleeve 73. Mien the split ring 71 contacts YtheV Yend of the Vsleeve '73 expands suliiciently Within the counterbore 91 to move out Yof .the groove 70 and'allow the tubular support `61 to move to the right as viewed in Figure 6 to the retracted position shown in Figure 7. XVhen the tubular support 61 is thus telescoped Within the sleeve 73 the forward end of the piston rod is exposed so thatV wrenches can be applied to the parts and 86 to separate the saw blade 69 from the piston rod 80. A new saw 'blade may be threaded onto the projecting end of the-piston rod as thus exposed. lThe guard 94 may again beV in set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

i claim: i

`l. in a portable power operated tool, the combination of: a fiuid operated powerv cylinder assembly having a stationaryV housing yand a reciproca'ble-piston'rodextending.

axially through one end of the housing, a 'valve'asseinbly fixed relative lto thehousingfat the other end'thereof for controlling operation of the piston rod, a lever fon the valve assembly for operating the valve assembly, and movable in a certain plane,'a tubular support having a contrai opening receiving a portion of said piston rod, a movable Werl-2 element supported upon the tubular support and operatively connected for activation by the'pston rod, said work element' having a plane of action, a ring encircling a portion of the tubular support and constituting an enlargement thereof, a nut threaded on the hous-` Y 'ing, the nut having a bore slidably receiving the tubular support and also having a counterbore to receive said ring, the nutarcting to clamp the ring axially against the housing to prevent relative'tu'rning movement therebetween, loosening of the nut'acting to permit such relative turning movement to'enable the plane of action of the work element to be turned with respect to'the plane of movement of said lever.

2. The combinationV set forth in claim 1 in which the work element comprises an oscillating cutting blade.

3. The combination set forth in claimA 1 in which the Work element Ycomprises a reciprocating saw blade.

References Cited in the le of this'patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,557,495 Bily June 19, 

